Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani : A star in her own right

Veteran writer, novelist Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, who along with her women counterparts Arikepudi Kousalya Devi and Ranganayakamma, heralded a new era in Telugu fictional literature since the 1950s, passed away at California on Monday. The writer, who hailed from Kaza village of Guntur district, was 78.

While it was Kousalya Devi who ushered in the trend of film adaptations of Telugu novels with Doctor Chakravarthy, it was Sulochana's writings that captured the fascination of an average reader since the '60s reflecting contemporary trends, relationships with her signature nostalgic style. It was thanks to her writings that readers awaited her novel chapters across various Telugu magazines.

Stardom among writers was a term unheard of before Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani entered the literary scene in the 60s and introduced pulp literature to a new generation. It was the popularity of novels that paved way for her film career, many weeklies rode on her fame to sell copies and that she could distinguish her writing style from her contemporaries like Latha, Santha Devi and Ranganayakamma helped. She carved her niche and brought novels to the mainstream in Telugu.

Poet, Sahitya Akademi award winner Devipriya Tadikonda recollects, “Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani is part of my nostalgia. Her books grew on readers so much that they (readers) believed this was serious literature. She wrote at a rapid pace, had a highly readable style, diction in a utopian setting.” He says her book sales were unmatched by others in the late 60s for her romantic world made many among the middle/lower-middle classes read Telugu. “Even during my college days where I’d won prizes in many categories, I was gifted her books on stage,” he says.

Characters like Rajasekharam and Jayanthi from her novel Secretary created tropes of a wealthy, stylish landlord, luxurious cars which captured the fantasies of many. Chaitanya Pingali mentions, “They offered readers a different dimension of life in comparison to revolutionist writers like Chalam and Sri Sri. The novels created such an impact that I wondered how would Yaddanapudi interpret certain situations I witnessed in life. She talked about very relatable issues in contrast to feminist literature.” Telugu readers glimpsed Tank Bund and Naubat Pahad as a popular spot for lovebirds in Hyderabad through her writing.

Yaddanapudi had many a time insisted that her readership came at the cost of family time. Her moralistic views in relationships from her novels reflected in her real life- she dedicated the last few years of her life to her husband, putting a full stop to her writing career with grace. Writer Anasuya Kanneganti, who received an award instated in memory of Yaddanapudi’s mother elaborates, “She asked upcoming writers not to write books for awards but advised us to read people and their minds. Work hard and find your way, she insisted popularity would follow. She enjoyed her long drives, appreciated the independence of woman drivers on roads. Her writings ensured fame for many people, filmmakers, publishers and technicians.”